Conflicted Interest

Jan 8, 2025

Dive into the tangled web of personal interests and public discourse. Discover how transparency can enhance dialogue and trust in controversial discussions. Explore the dynamics of belonging and exclusion, especially for non-dads in parenting circles. Reflect on the challenges of giving authentic advice in marriage and divorce. Navigate the complexities of interracial marriage debates and societal perceptions of drug use. Lastly, unravel how personal bias shapes our understanding of identity and the importance of empathy in discussions.

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INSIGHT

Conflicts of Interest in Public Discourse

Some participate in public discourse who should be excluded due to conflicts of interest.
Conflicts of interest arise from competing duties, not necessarily bad character.

INSIGHT

Importance of Disclosure

Hidden biases and agendas often motivate attacks and defenses in arguments.
Disclosing personal biases and interests is crucial for honest discussion.

ADVICE

Acknowledge Biases

Acknowledge inherent biases when making arguments, especially when defending oneself.
Focus on presenting facts and arguments instead of trying to appear good.

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Hosts

Corey J. Mahler

coreyjmahler.com

@CoreyJMahler

Woe

aka Eschatologuy

@treblewoe

Every man has a collection of interests. A man has an interest in his family; a man has an interest in his job; a man has an interest in his financial positions; a man has an interest in his city; a man has an interest in his nation. These interests can sometimes come into conflict. To have a conflict of interests does not mean that the man in question is necessarily compromised or untrustworthy, but it does mean that he is in a position where he will have to make a choice between those competing interests.

In our legal system, we recognize this in a number of ways. We take the interests of a witness into account when weighing his testimony (and not just for credibility purposes); we take into account whether a statement is made against interest; we dismiss jurors who have certain interests in the outcome of a given case. The same is true of many other parts of our government (e.g., regulators are supposed to at least disclose any interests they have in the entities they regulate).

It is not that having an interest means that a man is automatically disqualified; rather, it is that the interests of the man must be taken into account when assessing his arguments, and it is also that men should generally disclose their interests — and those who fail to do so are suspect. However, there most certainly are instances where a man with a conflict of interests should or even must be disqualified from participating in the discussion — this is not only to protect the discussion itself, but also to protect the man from having to make a choice between his legitimate (and possibly even equally important) interests.

Handling these issues is a matter of wisdom, and one that has been neglected for far too long in Christian circles. God does not command us to be fools; rather, He commands us to be wise and to be wary of wolves.

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Show Notes

The Small Catechism — The Ten Commandments

Parental Warnings

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Conflicted Interest

Conflicts of Interest in Public Discourse

Importance of Disclosure

Acknowledge Biases

Hosts

Corey J. Mahler

Woe

Show Notes

See Also

Further Reading

Parental Warnings

Transcript

Support the Podcast

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